The Weekly is a highlight of the work the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is doing to strengthen you and our churches for God’s glory.

Ten good news stories from 2018 you might have missed

While 2018 has been a year of controversies, division, and tragedies, there were also a number of positive developments that have occurred. Here are 10 you might not have heard about:

1. Persecuted American pastor released from jail in Turkey

“After spending two years imprisoned in Turkey on spurious terrorism-related charges, an American pastor was freed on October 15, 2018, and allowed to return to the United States.”

2. 'First Step' criminal justice reform becomes law

“The launch of criminal justice reform backed by both conservatives and liberals has become a reality in federal law. The First Step Act to promote the rehabilitation and societal re-entry of prisoners while maintaining public safety was signed by President Trump on December 21, 2018. The measure provides training for inmates and reforms some sentencing requirements, including certain drug offenses.”

The ERLC is busy preparing for the 2019 Evangelicals for Life Conference in Washington, D.C. later this month. Find more details and register to be a champion for life and human dignity in your community.
Thank you to everyone who gave to the ERLC in 2018! Because of the generosity of our Cooperative Program partners and supporters like you, we are able to expand our work in 2019 to bring a gospel witness to our culture, Congress, courts, and more.

What You Need to Know

A new year brings new opportunities, especially when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. But we have to be intentional about it. So, Casey B. Hough encourages us in his latest article with 2 ways to avoid forgetfulness in the New Year.

As we welcome another year, our attention naturally turns to the future. We ask questions like, “What will the new year hold?” Or, “What will I accomplish this year?” And even, “What will God do in 2019?” Such future-oriented questions are right and good when marked by humility and dependence upon God...

The ERLC publishes many articles in a year, making it easy to forget which ones stood out to our readers. Lindsay Nicolet compiled a list of the top ERLC posts of 2018 to help us remember the issues and subjects that sparked the most interest over the last year.

Every year we get to share incredible content, including videos, articles, and podcasts, from top-notch contributors who help you, our readers, think biblically about the most pressing issues of our day. We posted close to 400 articles alone this year, and of those, the following are the ones that most resonated with you. May these reminders encourage and strengthen you as you seek to live out the gospel in your everyday lives.

How protected is your teen from finding pornography online? Julie Masson provides some startling statistics and asks some clever questions to help you diagnose your teen’s technological safety. You can take the quiz here.

The lesson to learn from this quiz, no matter your score, is that you must be involved in your teen’s device use. This cliche has been used over and over, but it rings true: you would never hand over the keys to your car to your teenager without first teaching him how to drive it properly and safely. So, don’t hand your teenager a phone if you don’t have the time to teach him or her how to use a smartphone properly and safely.

News From Capitol Hill

The 2018 D.C. interns join Jeff Pickering for a 2018 review of the ERLC’s work in Washington. The group, consistenting of individuals from different states, universities, law schools, seminaries, and backgrounds, discusses their favorite policy projects, memorable meetings on Capitol Hill, and laughable moments at the Leland House. Listen to this latest episode of Capitol Conversations: Year in review with the 2018 interns.

The ERLC is dedicated to seeing each generation engage the culture with the gospel of Christ. Our internship program exists to prepare students and young professionals with a gospel-centered, kingdom-focused perspective on the issues of everyday life. We offer semester and year-long programs in our Nashville and D.C. offices. For more information and to apply, visit ERLC.com/internships.

Featured Podcasts

Infertility is one of the hardest things a couple can walk through, and it’s often experienced alone. It’s often misunderstood and others are fearful to address the subject. So, on the ERLC Podcast, Elizabeth Graham, Matt Arbo, Lauren McAfee, Nicole Lino, and Chelsea Sobolik used their personal and professional experience to encourage those walking through this struggle.

Listen to their panel, Holy longing: The struggle with infertility.

All of us have a little wanderlust—a desire for that next thing, that new place, but this competes with our longings for security, control, and safety. We don’t like how it feels to be unsettled and uprooted. And most of us do whatever we can to numb the feelings of unbelonging, powerlessness, and unsettledness. But the truth is that exile has a profound purpose if we can just learn to lean in.

On The Way Home, Dan Darling talks to Michelle Van Loon about wandering, insecurity, and belonging. Listen here.

From The Public Square

Five Research-Based Ways to Build Resilient Families in 2019
Alysse ElHage, Institute for Family Studies

We've compiled 5 research-based ways to build more resilient families in 2019 and beyond

Evangelical Mega-donors Are Rethinking Money in Politics
Emma Green, The Atlantic

In recent years, Christianity has become publicly associated with conservative political causes. Some wealthy Christians are pushing back.

Immigrant child dies in U.S. custody
Rachel Lynn Aldrich, WORLD

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has ordered medical checks on all children in its custody, focusing on those younger than 10, after the death of an 8-year-old Guatemalan boy, the agency said Tuesday.

Iranians Are Converting To Evangelical Christianity In Turkey
Fariba Nawa, NPR

In Turkey and across the Middle East and Europe, evangelical Christians are converting Muslim refugees eager to emigrate to the West. The refugees in Turkey escaped Iran, where conversion to anything but Islam is illegal.

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